Page 37 of Summer Breakdown
“Tell me something.”
“I’m a very anxious person,” Frankie says, and Jasmine almost flinches at the change of topic. “We grew up stupid poor, so I don’t like going into things without knowing how much it will cost in case for some reason we can’t afford it and then I have to choose something else to not pay.”
Frankie chews on her lip. “Will you tell me how long you think it’ll take and what you charge an hour?”
“Sure.”
“Okay,” Frankie says, her shoulders relaxing a little. “This is what we made last year, and this is what we paid out. So, is this what we have to pay in tax?” Jasmine frowns. They’re both wrong. She doesn’t even know the extent of the business, but she knows from looking at them that they’re both wrong.
“No,” she replies, and Frankie flinches slightly. Jasmine doesn’t like it. “But it’s okay. We can figure it out.”
“How did I not get the maths right? I had a calculator.”
Jasmine laughs as she writes down a few things for Frankie to get for her.
“Accounting is hard. You’re doing great.”
“I am?” Frankie asks, and Jasmine screws up her nose. She wasn’t supposed to say it out loud.
“Yeah. I mean, the team are doing well, and you’re building a legacy. It’s cool,” she replies. Itiscool—she’s not lying. Nothing that Frankie has accomplished with the Titans can be undersold by the fact she doesn’t like Jasmine very much. “It’s also new. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. Haven’t you only been coach for, like, two and a half years?”
Frankie raises her eyebrow, and Jasmine regrets speaking. “Did you look me up?”
She blushes. “No.”
Frankie smiles at the ground.
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Frankie replies.
Jasmine groans. “I’m not helping you if you’re mean to me. It was like one Google search! I had to check you weren’t murderers before I let my kids come.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Frankie, so help me, I will leave you to pay your fifty-seven percent tax.”
Frankie laughs, and Jasmine likes the way her cheek curves. “Is that what it was?”
Jasmine smiles as she puts her notebook away, but her phone flashes up with a text from Mike. He wants to know when the kids want to go to his over summer, but only so he can make excuses as to why he’s not around.
“Are you alright?” Frankie asks.
“Yeah,” Jasmine replies. Mike popping up reminds her of how much she hates not knowing if she’s wanted somewhere. She spent so long questioning how he felt for her, whether they were incompatible because of something she was doing. Jasmine barely knew who she was when she was with him, always changing small things about herself in case it meant he wanted to spend the evening with her.
Frankie doesn’t want her here. She’s made it clear.
Still, Frankie asks, “What’s wrong?”
Jasmine blinks. “Nothing.”
“Please,” Frankie whispers. “Tell me something.”
Jasmine huffs out a laugh. She has such a nerve.
“Are you not going to the quiz because of me?” Jasmine asks. Frankie breathes out, her hands trembling just a little. Jasmine probably wouldn’t be able to notice if it weren’t for the paper she was holding. Jasmine knows touch is supposed to help, but it’s probably only if the person who needs help wants the other person around.
“Yeah,” Frankie replies, and Jasmine feels like she’s been hit. At least she was honest.
